1Then I was given a measuring stick, and I was told, “Go and measure the Temple of God and the altar, and count the number of worshipers.
2But do not measure the outer courtyard, for it has been turned over to the nations. They will trample the holy city for 42 months.
3And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will be clothed in burlap and will prophesy during those 1,260 days.”
4These two prophets are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of all the earth.
5If anyone tries to harm them, fire flashes from their mouths and consumes their enemies. This is how anyone who tries to harm them must die.
6They have power to shut the sky so that no rain will fall for as long as they prophesy. And they have the power to turn the rivers and oceans into blood, and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they wish.
7When they complete their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the bottomless pit will declare war against them, and he will conquer them and kill them.
8And their bodies will lie in the main street of Jerusalem, the city that is figuratively called “Sodom” and “Egypt,” the city where their Lord was crucified.
9And for three and a half days, all peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will stare at their bodies. No one will be allowed to bury them.
10All the people who belong to this world will gloat over them and give presents to each other to celebrate the death of the two prophets who had tormented them.
11But after three and a half days, God breathed life into them, and they stood up! Terror struck all who were staring at them.
12Then a loud voice from heaven called to the two prophets, “Come up here!” And they rose to heaven in a cloud as their enemies watched.
13At the same time there was a terrible earthquake that destroyed a tenth of the city. Seven thousand people died in that earthquake, and everyone else was terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14The second terror is past, but look, the third terror is coming quickly.
15Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices shouting in heaven: “The world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ,and he will reign forever and ever.”
16The twenty-four elders sitting on their thrones before God fell with their faces to the ground and worshiped him.
17And they said, “We give thanks to you, Lord God, the Almighty,the one who is and who always was,for now you have assumed your great powerand have begun to reign.
18The nations were filled with wrath,but now the time of your wrath has come.It is time to judge the deadand reward your servants the prophets,as well as your holy people,and all who fear your name,from the least to the greatest.It is time to destroyall who have caused destruction on the earth.”
19Then, in heaven, the Temple of God was opened and the Ark of his covenant could be seen inside the Temple. Lightning flashed, thunder crashed and roared, and there was an earthquake and a terrible hailstorm.